(Image credit: Future)
When I saw the Genesis Neolun concept at the New York International Auto Show two years ago, I never expected those B-pillar-less coach doors to make it onto a real vehicle. I mean, removing the middle center post of a massive SUV to create a wide-open living space? It was absolutely reasonable to think this design would get scrapped the second real-world safety tests entered the conversation.Yet, I found myself inside San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts watching a production-ready Genesis GV90 Neolun open all its doors in unison, revealing five feet of completely unblocked space with zero. center. pillar. in. sight.My very first question was the obvious one: how does this flagship not fold in half if you get T-boned? I proceeded to spend time in presentations and panels to get the answer, in case you too were curious why we don’t see more SUVs with coach doors out on the road.How to build a B-pillar without an traditional B-pillarGenesis calls the hidden structural magic 'Neolun Arch Gate'. Essentially, it built the structural B-pillar inside the doors. The second the doors close shut, high-strength dual steel beams and heavy-duty impact hooks interlock straight into the roof and floor sills. In other words, they literally lock together to establish the level of safety a B-pillar structure typically enforces.Because the door has to push outward on hinges before swinging open, Genesis stress-tested different cast iron and aluminum alloys to find the exact thickness needed at all points throughout the frame to support that heavy sliding and rotating motion.The GV90’s safety innovations extend beyond re-engineering coach doors. The cabin is wrapped in a hidden roll cage with a frame 1.5 times thicker than a normal car, packed with steel tubes and structural foam that Genesis said is inspired by race cars.And if a crash does still cause a rollover, the world’s first Roof Airbag (one of 12 total airbags in the GV90) deploys directly across the panoramic glass ceiling.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.The payoff: an open-concept living room on wheelsSo what is the point of all of these design feats? For Genesis, it’s about presenting an innovative cabin experience as the centerpiece of luxury to, in part, celebrate the young brand’s 10-year anniversary.Tap a button on the door, and the motorized front seats smoothly swivel 180 degrees to face the back row, turning the car into an open-concept lounge complete with radiant-heated real wood floors.There will be a few GV90 variants, including a 4-seat "Executive Suite" with a built-in refrigerator and pop-out tables, as well as a standard version with conventional doors. But when another journalist asked one of the lead designers if these impossible coach doors would ever trickle down to smaller Genesis models, he gave an emphatic "no" (though he smirked and added, "miracles can happen").No gas, no hybrids, and a massive price tag
